Even as the most powerful battleships ever to float were still under construction during the first decades of the 20th century, they nevertheless were on the verge of being made obsolete by a new emerging technology, the airplane. Although much of the naval senior leadership still believed in the concept of the battle fleet, even in the early days there were visionaries in naval aviation who saw the potential of this new technology. Most of the first naval aviators conducted their training right on the banks of the Severn River across from the Naval Academy, and they used aircraft identical to our object today, a replica of one of the earliest naval aircraft built by the Wright Brothers.

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About ENS Chris O'Keefe

Ensign Chris O’Keefe is a Naval Academy graduate who has spent the past three years researching and filming the video and podcast series A History of the Navy in 100 Objects. The project examines the evolution and development of the Navy from its earliest roots to the 21st century, and focuses on the contexts of technology, naval policy and national strategy. ENS O’Keefe currently serves on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.